Going to 'Extreme Lengths' for the Ukrainian President

Israel's capital city is going to "extreme lengths" to honor Ukraine's President Viktor Yanukovich, arriving on a state visit to Israel.

By Chana Ya'ar

First Publish: 11/30/2011, 2:36 PM

President Shimon Peres and morning visitor

Moshe Milner / GPO

Israel's capital city is going to "extreme lengths" to honor Ukraine's President Viktor Yanukovich, who arrives today (Wednesday) on a state visit to Israel. Yanukovich is scheduled to meet for talks Thursday with President Shimon Peres and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman.

The man is no shortstop: Yanukovich stretches his length to more than two meters (more than six and a half feet) tall, posing a unique challenge to the hospitality industry of the Jewish State. And hoteliers at the David Citadel in downtown Jerusalem are working hard to prepare the presidential suite for their VIP guest, according to a source who spoke with Arutz Sheva.

The source has confided, in fact, that the hotel has even placed an order for a new bed to fit the Ukrainian president's statuesque frame.

The new bed will reportedly be 2.30 meters (7.5 feet) long, as opposed to the standard hotel beds, which are only two meters in length.

On the agenda for the Peres-Yanukovich meeting will be the strengthening of ties between Israel and the Ukraine.

Joint statements will be issued to media prior to the talks, and a series of agreements are expected to be signed by Lieberman and his Ukrainian counterpart, Minister Grisinko, for cooperation in medicine and infrastructure development.

Peres will also host a state dinner in the evening to honor the Ukrainian president, attended by notables in the business, culture and technology sectors from both nations.